Downtown Cartersville Business District Added to National Register of Historic Places

Cartersville’s downtown business district was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The register, coordinated by the U.S. National Park Service, is “part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.”

City Council member Dianne Tate and downtown property owner John Lewis have worked on the process of having Cartersville listed on the National Register for the last several years. In recent years, City Planner Richard Osborne and other staff have assisted Tate and Lewis in their efforts.

The addition of the city’s downtown business district onto the list now qualifies the area for federal grants for historic preservation and tax incentives for property owners in the area.

“This is an exciting honor for downtown Cartersville, and it is thanks to so many people who have helped to preserve and protect downtown over the years,” said Cartersville DDA/Main Street Manager Tara Currier. “Previous leaders of this community saw the historical significance of our downtown, which is why the majority of buildings built in the late 1800s and early 1900s are still standing today. With the creation of our Historic Preservation Commission in 2001, even more attention and effort to preserve our historical structures was put into place. Visitors frequently comment on the charm our historic downtown boasts, and being listed in the National Register is something the entire community should be very proud.”

Efforts to include downtown Cartersville in the National Register began as early as 2007. There were already six properties within the downtown business district, which includes the area between Tennessee Street and Bartow Street, and Church Street to Leake Street, listed in the register.

The nomination process required detailed information about the other historical structures within the district being nominated. After working with consultants, a 62-page application was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Division in November 2013. The application was then reviewed and recommendation was given during a February 2014 meeting of the Georgia National Register Review Board.

Cartersville received word about the National Register listing on Monday, Nov. 24.

“Being listed on the National Register allows economic development groups like the Downtown Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce to market the area more aggressively,” said City Planner Richard Osborne.

In addition to opportunities for preservation grants and tax incentives, the listing also lends itself to additional marketing efforts for the downtown area. Not only does it put downtown Cartersville among other “elite” properties in Bartow County and throughout Georgia, but may lend itself to additional signage from Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 41 and/or other state roadways directing people to downtown Cartersville. As heritage tourism continues to be a popular trend, using the historic designation on promotional material may further attract visitors to the area.

“Under the terms of the registry, there are no requirements that might prove burdensome to business and there are no costs involved,” continued Osborne. “Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places is an honor for Cartersville and downtown is worthy of this designation – it’s a great place.”

Photo credit: Cartersville DDA